Dice Game

ABSTRACT

Inter alia the present invention provides an apparatus for playing a dice game with bets on the outcome of throws of the dice, which apparatus comprises: a table with a playing surface: at least one die having a plurality of sides, each of said plurality of sides having a different one from a set of indicia; a plurality of substantially identical playing pieces/chips to be used by different players or by one player for different bets in a game, the playing surface of the table being marked with a plurality of independent betting areas each corresponding to a different outcome of a throw of the at least one die, wherein at least one of the betting areas is marked with a plurality of mutually differently marked zones, each of said plurality of differently marked zones to receive a playing piece/chip thereon that is specific to one player so that each playing piece/chip may be differentiated by player from another not by the colour of the playing piece/chip but by the selected differently marked zone of the at least one betting area that the playing piece/chip is placed on.

Field of the Invention

The present invention concerns dice games and more specifically a novelapparatus and method for playing a dice game that involves wagering onthe outcome of throwing dice on a table.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Dice games of the type in question and which include ‘Craps’, ‘Sic Bo’,‘Chuck-a luck’ or conventional Dice are a popular feature of casinosthat have a range of different betting games. Such games are, however,quite expensive to administer since they generally involve use of anumber of dedicated tables each taking up a substantial amount of floorspace and each manned by several staff to supervise the game-play andbetting. Also staff pr machines are needed to manage/sort andre-distribute the player-specific coloured chips/tokens at the end ofeach round of game play.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is providedapparatus for playing a dice game with bets on the outcome of throws ofthe dice, which apparatus comprises:

a table with a playing surface:

at least one die having a plurality of sides, each of said plurality ofsides having a different one from a set of indicia;

a plurality of substantially identical playing pieces/chips to be usedby different players or by one player for different bets in a game,

the playing surface of the table being marked with a plurality ofindependent betting areas each corresponding to a different outcome of athrow of the at least one die, wherein at least one of the betting areasis marked with a plurality of mutually differently marked zones, each ofsaid plurality of differently marked zones to receive a playingpiece/chip thereon that is specific to one player so that each playingpiece/chip may be differentiated by player from another not by thecolour of the playing piece/chip but by the selected differently markedzone of the at least one betting area that the playing piece/chip isplaced on.

With differentiated player-specific zones in each betting area on thetable there is no longer any need to provide and process differentlycolored player-specific chips, which avoids the need for manual labouror automated machinery for sorting the chips between each bout of use.This results in very considerable time and cost savings for the casinoor other operator running the dice game and can enhance the playersexperience too. Cost-savings amounting to many thousands ofpounds/dollars a year may be made.

Preferably the differently marked zones of the at least one betting areaare configured in a radial array around a centre of the at least onebetting area. Suitably the at least one betting area is polygonal andeach side of the polygon is a differently marked zone. By this means anoptimal number of players can be serviced on a single table.

Preferably each differently marked zone of the at least one betting areais differentiated by its colour. This makes the use of the new systemsimpler and more intuitive/easier for players to adjust to.

Suitably the table/playing surface is further marked along the perimeterof the table facing the players with a series of marks eachcorresponding to a different one of the marks of the differently markedplayer-specific zones so that each player will stand behind theirspecific marked position. Alternatively, each player might be given asingle token when they start playing marked to show their playerspecific marking so that they are reminded/validated for playing intheir designated zones. In other words they are, for example, giventheir single player-specific colored chip at the start corresponding totheir colored zone in each betting area and they hold it and return itafter they have played as many games as they wish.

The game is best played with at least two dice and suitably where the oreach die is a six-sided die

For greatest appeal with a twin six-sided dice game arrangement thereare suitably at least 21 independent betting areas, each correspondingto a different outcome of a throw of the pair of dice. A further sixindependent betting areas may be provided corresponding to the sixdifferent outcomes for one of the pair of dice. Suitably the at least 21independent betting areas are configured on the playing surface groupedtogether in a triangular arrangement. This is optimally compact andeasily viewed and followed by the supervisor and the players. The atleast 21 independent betting areas are preferably configured on theplaying surface grouped together with adjacent sides of adjacent bettingareas being contiguous.

In a further major improvement the table is configured to have at leasttwo dice-throwing zones, each having a perimeter wall towards which thedice may be thrown/rolled and serving to contain the dice on the table,there being an inset bay between the at least two dice-throwing zoneswhere a game supervisor may stand.

By making the table in this form this can enable considerable savings tobe made in number of tables and floor space for a given number ofplayers as well as in supervisor man-power to run multiple simultaneousgames.

For, example, one supervisor alone stationed in the bay between the twodice-throwing zones can manage un-assisted and replace four of fivesupervisors where the table is set up for playing multi-player AmericanCraps. This can, of course, represent huge cost-savings to the casino orother operator.

Thus, according to a second aspect of the present invention there isprovided an apparatus for playing a dice game with bets on the outcomeof throws of the dice, which apparatus comprises: a table with a playingsurface on which the dice may be thrown wherein the table has at leasttwo dice-throwing zones, each having a perimeter wall towards which thedice may be thrown/rolled and serving to contain the dice on the table,there being an inset bay between the at least two dice-throwing zoneswhere a game supervisor may stand

Preferably in this table each of the perimeter walls curves/bowsoutwardly from the table as viewed from above. Suitably a first of theperimeter walls curves/bows outwardly oriented in a first direction anda second perimeter wall curves/bows outwardly oriented in a seconddirection at an acute angle to the first direction. Suitably eachperimeter wall curves/bows outwardly substantially symmetrically andeach is oriented with its axis of symmetry at an acute angle to the axisof symmetry of the other perimeter wall.

In further improvements the playing surface is suitably further markedwith a further group of betting areas wherein each betting area of thegroup corresponds to multiple different outcomes of a throw of the atleast one die so that a player may bet on multiple different outcomeswith one placed bet. This further group suitably is arranged as a linearseries or matrix of adjacent and suitably contiguous areas on the table

In a further aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus forplaying a dice game with bets on the outcome of throws of the dice,which apparatus comprises:

a table with a playing surface, the playing surface of the table beingmarked with a plurality of independent betting areas each correspondingto a different outcome of a throw of the at least one die, wherein atleast one of the betting areas is marked with a plurality of mutuallydifferently marked zones, each of said plurality of differently markedzones to receive a playing piece/chip thereon that is specific to oneplayer so that each playing piece/chip may be differentiated by playerfrom another not by the colour of the playing piece/chip but by theselected differently marked zone of the at least one betting area thatthe playing piece/chip is placed on.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be moreparticularly described, by way of example only, with reference to theaccompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters designate thesame or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1A: is a top down view displaying one of two parts of the presentembodiment that make up the double betting area; this part contains sixbets.

FIG. 1B: is a top down view displaying the present embodiment that makeup the middle betting area; this part contains fifteen bets.

FIG. 2: is a top down view displaying the present embodiment that makesup the “outside” betting area; this part contains six bets.

FIG. 1A “double” betting area and FIG. 1B “middle” betting area willcollectively be known as the “inside” betting area. FIG. 2 will be knownas the “outside” betting area.

FIG. 3A: is a top down view displaying the present embodimenthighlighting the winning bets when the outcome of both dice is one.

FIG. 3B: is a top down view displaying the present embodimenthighlighting the winning bets when the outcome of both dice is two.

FIG. 3C: is a top down view displaying the present embodimenthighlighting the winning bets when the outcome of both dice is three.

FIG. 3D: is a top down view displaying the present embodimenthighlighting the winning bets when the outcome of both dice is four.

FIG. 3E: is a top down view displaying the present embodimenthighlighting the winning bets when the outcome of both dice is five.

FIG. 3F: is a top down view displaying the present embodimenthighlighting the winning bets when the outcome of both dice is six.

FIG. 4: is a top down view displaying the present layout containing theinside, middle and outside bets. FIG. 4 contains the inside, middle andoutside betting areas that are collectively known as the main bettingarea.

FIG. 5: is a top down view displaying a possible alternative layoutcontaining the inside, middle and outside bets. FIG. 5 collectivelycould be known as the main betting area if chosen as a preferredembodiment over FIG. 4

FIG. 6A: is a top down view displaying an optional betting area for thepurpose of multiple betting by the player. FIG. 6A contains six bettingareas with each area representing six single bets on the “inside”betting area.

FIG. 6B: is a top down view displaying an optional betting area for thepurpose of multiple betting by the player. FIG. 6B contains elevenbetting areas representing the available combined totals of 2 dice witheach area representing various bets on the main betting area. Single andmultiple bets are available dependent upon the betting area selected bythe player.

FIG. 6C: is a top down view displaying an optional betting area for thepurpose of multiple betting by the player. FIG. 6C contains five bettingareas representing some available combined totals of 2 dice with eacharea representing various bets on the main betting area. Each bettingarea of FIG. 6C represents multiple betting areas on the main bettingarea.

FIG. 6D: is a top down view of the present embodiment displaying all theoptional betting areas combined into one layout. FIG. 6D is an optionalsub betting area collectively known as the Track.

FIG. 7A: is a top down view of the present embodiment displaying themethod of marking the layout using various player-specific colours. Thismethod of marking the layout negates the need for player-specificcoloured chips and allows all players to use the same chips.

FIG. 7B: is a top down view of a suggested alternative embodimentdisplaying a method of marking the layout using various colours.

FIG. 7C: is a top down view of a suggested alternative embodimentdisplaying a method of marking the layout using various colour bordersthat surround a betting area negating the need for colour chips.

FIG. 7D: is a top down view of a suggested alternative embodimentdisplaying a method of marking the layout using different coloursymbols; in this case different coloured arrows.

FIG. 8: is a top down view of the present embodiment displaying the mainlayout using the method shown in FIG. 7B.

FIG. 9: is a top down view of a suggested table using the layout fromFIG. 8 and the optional betting area, FIG. 7B. FIG. 9 also displayseight colour boxes positioned on the edge of the suggested table thatcorrespond with the colours in FIG. 7B and FIG. 8.

FIG. 10: is a top down view of a suggested table identical to FIG. 9 ona reversed perspective.

FIG. 11: is a top down view of a suggested alternative shaped table.FIG. 11 offers players a choice of two areas where they can throw thedice.

FIG. 12: is a flowchart illustrating the overall operation of thepresent embodiment.

Table. 1 shows a pay table containing the true odds and payoffs.

Table. 2 shows a pay table where on a perfect average all players willlose one chip every 36 rolls of the dice providing an overall advantageto the house of about 2.77%.

Table. 3 shows a pay table where on a perfect average all players willlose two chips every 36 rolls of the dice providing an overall advantageto the house of about 5.54%

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Main Game Layout

FIG. 4 represents a possible layout of the playing surface of the dicegame table. There are a total of twenty-seven independent bettingoptions split into two groups, FIG. 2 shows six betting options thatwill be called the outside bets and will be referred to as such. FIGS.1A and 1B together make up what will be called the inside bets and willbe referred to as such. The inside bets offer twenty-one bettingoptions. The outside bets allow for players to bet that at least one ofthe dice rolled will be a specific value; any winning bets are paidaccording to a pay table, The inside bets offer betting options on allof the possible outcomes of two identical dice. These are split into twogroups.

FIG. 1A shows the six doubles and any winning bets are paid according toa pay table. FIG. 1B shows the remaining fifteen outcomes, any winningbets are paid according to a pay table. The main game layout contains atotal of twenty-seven independent bets, of which there are six outsidebets and twenty-one inside bets, the inside bets are made up of theabsolute number of possible outcomes of two identical dice or theirdigital equivalent. FIG. 1A contains six betting areas where both dicehave equal values; these bets will be called “doubles”. On a perfectaverage each of the six bets will win once in every thirty-six rolls ofthe dice. A player who makes a bet in one of these boxes only wins if onthe next roll both dice match exactly the area that the player placedtheir bet. The player will then receive a pay off according to a paytable. Pay table 1, table 2 and table 3 are three possible pay tables.

FIG. 1B contains fifteen betting areas where each dice has a differentvalue. These bets will be called “middle” bets which, on a perfectaverage, each bet will win four times in every thirty-six rolls of thedice. Bets that are placed in one of the fifteen areas (middle bettingarea) win if the dice, after being rolled, match exactly to the areathat the player placed their bet or if a double is rolled that matchesone of the dice values that the player is betting on, e.g. If a playerplaced a bet on the 1, 6 betting area, then to receive a pay off thedice must either be 1, 6 exactly or a double 1 or a double 6. In theevent of a winning bet the player will receive a pay off according to apay table. Because all twenty-one inside betting areas are independentthere is no limit to how these can be arranged on the playing surface,however, it is preferable to arrange these in the shape of a triangle asit aids both the players and the dealer in identifying specific betsquickly, for example, if the winning outcome was 5, 3 the betting area5, 3 can be found by mentally forming an equilateral triangle withdouble 3 at one corner and double 5 at another corner with 5, 3 beingfound at the other corner. Additionally if you are looking at the totalswith double 1 being a total of two the next vertical row will contain 2,1 being a total of 3 the next vertical row which contain allcombinations that total 4 and so on until you reach the other side ofthe board where you will find double 6 giving a total of twelve. Notethat all combinations that total 7 are found running straight down thecentre of the layout.

Outside Betting Area

FIG. 2 contains six independent betting areas each showing one side ofone dice. These bets are known as the “outside” bets. Any bets placed inthese betting areas win if one of the two dice thrown matches thebetting area where the bet is placed. Bets are paid according to a paytable. A winning bet will receive a higher pay off if both dice arerolled and both dice match the betting area of the winning bet. Becauseall six bets are independent there is no preferred layout. FIG. 4 andFIG. 5 both show the “outside” (FIG. 2) bets broken up into two sets ofthree on each side of the main triangle betting area.

Inside Betting Area

On every roll of the dice one of the “inside” bets must be the winningcombination. When one of the combinations shown in FIG. 1B is thrown,that particular combination is deemed to win and receives a payoffaccording to a pay table; all other combinations are deemed to lose andare removed from the layout. Additionally two outside bets win andreceive pay offs; the remaining outside bets lose and are removed fromthe table.

Double Betting Area

When the winning combination of dice is a double, shown in FIG. 1A,there are 7 winning bets. One in the “double” betting area, five in the“middle” betting area and one in the “outside” betting area. FIG. 3Ashows the winning “inside” bets when double 1 is rolled. FIG. 3B showsall the winning inside bets when double 2 is rolled. FIG. 3C shows allthe winning inside bets when double 3 is rolled. FIG. 3D shows all thewinning inside bets when double 4 is rolled. FIG. 3E shows all thewinning inside bets when double 5 is rolled. FIG. 3F shows all thewinning inside bets when double 6 is rolled. All bets are independentand as such, there is no limit to the shape of the layout or how thebets are contained within, but at present it is found preferable to havethe “ inside” bets in the shape of a triangle. FIG. 5 shows a layoutmade up using squares to form a triangle.

Optional/Auxiliary Game Layouts

FIG. 6D shows a first optional/auxiliary layout; this layout will becalled the track and referred to as such. Bets placed on the track willbe called track bets. All of the track bets represent groups of “insidebets”. The number of chips required to play these bets varies dependingupon how many inside bets are covered by a particular betting area. Alltrack bets must be given to and placed by the dealer. The track containstwenty-two betting options split into two groups.

Cozy Bets

The first of these “group” bets are shown in FIG. 6A and will be calledthe “cozy” bets. FIG. 6A displays six betting options, each separate betcorresponds to six individual betting positions on the “inside” bettingarea. For example, a player wishing to place a bet on 6.6, 6.5, 6.4,6.3, 6.2 and 6.1 could make use of the betting area depicted in 6A bypassing six chips of minimum table value or higher to the dealer. Toidentify the individual betting value he was seeking to bet the playerwould use the phrase ‘SIX COZY’ whereby the dealer would place theentire bet on the area designated “six” within the group of bets in FIG.6A. To illustrate the betting area placed in the above example, pleaserefer to FIG. 3A. In the event of any of these positions winning theappropriate chip(s) will be moved from the track and placed on theappropriate inside position(s) and then they would receive a pay offaccording to a pay table.

The second and third group of track bets are concerned with the totalvalue of both dice when added together unlike the “Cozy Bets” whichrepresent specific combinations of dice, FIGS. 6B and 6C will addressthose players seeking to play for totals only. FIGS. 6B and 6C offerbets that are determined by adding the outcome of both dice after aroll. Solo Bets FIG. 6B offers eleven betting option; this representingevery possible total of two dice from double 1 which gives a total of 2,all the way up to double 6 which gives a total of 12. FIGS. 6B shows allof the single totals, the number of chips needed to play these betsvaries depending on how many “inside” bets equal the value the playerwants to play. To identify the individual betting value the player wasseeking to bet, the player would use the phrase ‘SIX SOLO’ whenannouncing the bet, whereby the dealer would place the entire bet on thearea designated “six” within the group of bets in FIG. 6B. In thisexample the player would need to surrender a minimum of three chips oftable value or multiples of 3 chips to the dealer to place because thereare three betting areas on the “inside” layout that add up to the totalof six; 3.3, 4.2 and 5.1. Were the player to chose a different “solo”number, perhaps the number “ten”, the player would need only surrendertwo chips of table value or multiples of 2 chips to the dealer to placebecause there are only 2 betting areas on the inside layout that add upto the total of ten, 5.5 and 6.4. In the event of any of these positionswinning the appropriate chip(s) will be moved from the track and placedon the appropriate inside position(s) and then they would receive a payoff according to a pay table. This group of bets will be called the“solo” bets and allow a player to play all of the “inside” bets that areof a certain total in one straightforward to play bet.

Bevy Bets

FIG. 6C offers five betting options, these being groups of single totalsas such these will be called “Bevy” bets and allow a player to play aportion of or the entire “inside” betting area that contain certaingroups of totals in one or multiple straightforward bets. The purpose ofthe track is to allow a player to place multiple “inside” bets quicklywithout the need to place many individual bets themselves. “Bevy” bet 2,3, 11 and 12 is a four chip minimum bet as each number represents oneinside betting area. A player would have to place four chips or multipleof four chips on this betting area to reach the minimum required chipsfor their bet to be accepted by the dealer. Likewise, “Bevy” bet 4, 5, 9and 10 are 8 chip minimum bets as each number represents two insidebetting areas. A player would have to place 8 chips or multiples of 8chips on this betting area to reach the minimum required chips for theirbet to be accepted by the dealer. “Bevy” bet 6, 7 and 8 are 9 chipminimum bets as each number represents three inside betting areas. Aplayer would have to place 9 chips or multiple of 9 chips on thisbetting area to reach the minimum required chips for their bet to beaccepted by the dealer. “Bevy” bet 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 is a 9 chip minimumbet as all numbers collectively representing nine inside betting areas.A player would have to place 9 chips or multiple of 9 chips on thisbetting area to reach the minimum required chips for their bet to beaccepted by the dealer. “Bevy” bet 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 is a 9 chipminimum bet as all numbers collectively representing nine inside bettingareas. A player would have to place 9 chips or multiple of 9 chips onthis betting area to reach the minimum required chips for their bet tobe accepted by the dealer. All track bets must be passed to the dealerby with the respective “bevy” bet called verbally by the player beforethe dealer accepts the bet. For example, if the player wishes to placethe group betting area numbered 2, 3, 11, 12, the player would call‘BEVY 2 to 12’. Providing sufficient chips have been passed to thedealer, the bet would be accepted and placed on the track signified as2-3-11-12 in FIG. 6C. Each “bevy” bet called by the player must beginwith the word “bevy” followed with the lowest number of the groupdesired and ending with the highest number from within the same group toidentify the group of bets requested. As all twenty-two track bets areindependent betting areas, as such there is no limit to the shape of thetrack and how the betting areas are contained within. There is also noneed for a track to contain all twenty-two betting options, FIGS. 6A, 6Band 6C could all be used as independent tracks or any combination ofgroups of inside bets could be used to create a track.

FIG. 4 shows a layout where the use of colour chips would be a necessarypart of the game when more than one player is playing. However, inaccordance with the first aspect of the invention this is undesirable.We eliminate the use of colour chips to avoid need for manpower ormechanical sorting machines to process large volumes of colour chipsevery turn, slowing the overall speed of the game and also enabling theremoval of large banks of colour chips required to service other gamesthat generally use colour chips as a method of identifying players.

Eliminating The Use Of Colour Chips

The use of different coloured chips to indentify where each player isplacing their bets is a firmly established feature of conventional gameswhich offer multiple betting areas. However, we dispense with the needfor colour chips and by doing so we remove the ongoing cost of replacingcolour chips and avoid need for any staff time or automated chipprocessing machines to separate mixed lots of colour chips.

FIG. 8 displays a possible layout that would function with many playerswithout the need for colour chips. FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C and 7D each showeight colour markings printed on the layout·101 Green·102 Brown·103Yellow·104 Light blue·105 Red·106 Grey·107 Orange·108 Dark blue.

These marking will surround all twenty-seven betting options of the maingame layout in a similar fashion. FIG. 8 shows a completed layout usingthe method shown in FIG. 7B. By designating each player a particularcolour, the player is confined to only placing bets in their respectivecorresponding colour marking that surrounds each betting option. Thismethod negates the need to distribute chips of a differing colour whichis a commonly found solution of differentiating bets between players ofhouse games. This method enables all players to bet with similar chipson the “inside” and “outside” betting areas at the same time with otherplayers whilst maintaining the ability to identify the owner of anyparticular bet anywhere on the game layout. There are numerous optionsfor designating each player with a colour of which two such methods areas follows.

Method One.

Each player is given a colour marker or button that that player retainswhilst playing; when they have finished playing they give the markerback to the dealer so that colour is available for the next player.

Method Two.

FIG. 9 displays that by marking the outside edge of the layout a playeris designated a colour simply by his position at the layout. As anexample, a player standing at 103 in FIG. 9 would place their chips atthe position 103 in FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C and 7D.

A player wishing to play would be offered an available colour; forexample yellow. In colour method one as described above, the dealerwould then give the player a yellow marker. The player would then placetheir chip(s) on any of the corresponding coloured areas on the layout,in this instance, yellow 103. The player would surrender the colouredmarker to the dealer prior to leaving the game. Alternatively, to avoidthe vacating player retaining the coloured marker after finishing theirplay a system of assigning colour to a player can be employed by usingthe method as described in FIG. 9.

FIG. 9 displays a drawing placing permanent colours around the edge ofthe layout allowing the players using identical chips to place theirbets on the colour markings in FIG. 7B. This corresponds with the colourmarkings printed on the layout where the player is positioned in FIG. 9.In FIG. 9 a player standing in the yellow area 103 would place bets onthe layout on the yellow markings 103 shown in FIG. 7B. If all of theavailable colours are being used by other players, a player who wishesto play can still place a bet by placing their chip(s) in the centre ofall of the other colours

Alternative Embodiments

FIG. 10 shows a mirrored layout of that shown in FIG. 9. By not limitingthe shape of the table to FIG. 9 different designs enable both left andright handed versions of the table to be offered.

Embodiment of the Second Aspect of the Invention

FIG. 11 shows a specially-shaped table different to that shown in FIGS.9 and 10. This new table shape is easier for both the dealer and theplayers to reach all available betting areas and very usefully enablesthe dealer/supervisor of the game to manage a table that has anywhere upto eight or so players playing simultaneously without requiringassistance from colleagues. The players also have a choice of areas tothrow the dice. The table is configured to have at least twodice-throwing zones, each having a perimeter wall towards which the dicemay be thrown/rolled and serving to contain the dice on the table, therebeing an inset bay between the two dice-throwing zones where thedealer/game supervisor may stand. By making the table in this form thiscan enable considerable savings to be made in number of tables and floorspace for a given number of players as well as in supervisor man-powerto run multiple simultaneous games. For, example, one supervisor alonestationed in the bay between the two dice-throwing zones can manageun-assisted and replace what would normally be four of five supervisorswhere the table is set up for playing multi-player American Craps. Thiscan represent huge cost-savings to the casino or other operator.

In a further improvement over the prior art in game play the game may beplayed with unconventional payouts/pay-offs where all of the bettingareas offer the exact same house advantage. Furthermore thepayouts/pay-offs may be exclusively whole numbers, ie X to 1 where X isa whole number. To achieve this unique payout we pay a bonus to playerswhen a double number (eg two sixes) is the outcome of throwing the pairof dice. This has a number of benefits—making the payouts easier tocomprehend and work with and uniquely offering different pay-outs forbets placed on the same betting area. The odds are also well balancedbetween the needs of casino and player.

Table. 2 shows a pay table where on a perfect average all players willlose one chip every 36 rolls of the dice providing an overall advantageto the house of about 2.77%. Alternative pay tables are displayed inTable.1 and Table.3 and are not exhaustive. Other pay tables arepossible as are different methods of play corresponding with various paytables. For instance, a method of play could involve a different outcomeand corresponding pay table when a double number is the outcome of bothdice. In an embodiment, when a double is the outcome of the dice roll,all corresponding bets on the middle betting area as in FIG. 1B with thesame number as the double receive a payoff of 3 to 2. Alternativemethods of play could see all of the middle bets to lose when a doubleis the outcome of both dice or all middle bets could remain in theirpositions for another throw of the dice when a double is thrown.

Operation of the preferred Embodiment

The player stands at one of the coloured areas around the table shown inFIG. 9. If playing chips are required monies are passed to the dealer207 which is exchanged for chips from the chip area 206. The player thenplaces any desired bets on either the main game layout or the optionalgame layout or both. The dealer 207 then offers two or more dice 201 tothe player, who selects two dice 201. The dice are thrown against eitherthe side walls 204 or the back wall 205. The dealer 207 calls out thewinning combination and then retrieves the dice 201 using the dice stick203 and places the dice in a display area. The dealer 207 places thedolly 202 onto the winning position on the inside betting area. Alllosing bets are removed from the layout and placed in the chip area 206.If the optional track layout is in use all losing track bets are clearedand any winning track bets are placed onto the winning position(s) onthe main game layout. Winning bets receive a payoff and the dolly 202 isremoved from the layout and the next round of betting begins.

FIG. 12 shows a flowchart illustrating a basic overview of the aboveprocess. Each roll of the dice is an independent event and is notaffected by what has already been rolled.

Touch Bets

In the last 5 years casinos in many jurisdictions have introduced a newmethod of delivering casino games known as Touch Bet gaming thatinvolves electronic machines that have a screen representing a gamblinglayout, most commonly Roulette. The player inserts cash or card to buycredits and places bets by touching the screen over the betting area.These machines are linked to a live game via a video camera thattelevises the outcome of a spin of a roulette wheel. The player oftenhas the choice of either a live game or may choose to rely on numbersbeing generated by an automatic casino wheel which is self containedwhere the ball is propelled by a gas mechanism. Because Roulette isplayed with colour chips, normally eight to ten different colours, onceall the colours are in play no more players can join the game. Remotetouch bet machines permit the casino operator to effectively add furtherplayers to an existing game thereby having no limit to the amount ofplayers who can be connected to a single roulette game. This touch bettechnology may be used in the context of the present invention withchanges only in the software. The game may be run from a live game or anautomatic dice generator either remotely or attached to a touch betmachine. It will be appreciated that the present invention and claimsembrace within their scope virtual dice tables and game play and remotetelevised dice games using touch bet screens.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that many variations arepossible within the spirit and scope of the invention in which all termsare meant in their broadest, reasonable sense unless otherwiseindicated. The two primary aspects of the present invention bothindividually and together dramatically improve efficiency in theoperation of dice games, whether the game be played under the rules of‘Craps’, ‘Sic Bo’, ‘Chuck-a luck’ or conventional Dice or any otherrules that involve betting on the outcome of the roll of dice on atable. Other aspects of the invention will also be apparent from theforegoing description and the claims and drawings that follow.

1. An apparatus for playing a dice game with bets on the outcome ofthrows of the dice, which apparatus comprises: a table with a playingsurface, the playing surface of the table being marked with a pluralityof independent betting areas each corresponding to a different outcomeof a throw of the at least one die, wherein at least one of the bettingareas is marked with a plurality of mutually differently marked zones,each of said plurality of differently marked zones to receive a playingpiece/chip thereon that is specific to one player so that each playingpiece/chip may be differentiated by player from another not by thecolour of the playing piece/chip but by the selected differently markedzone of the at least one betting area that the playing piece/chip isplaced on.
 2. An apparatus for playing a dice game as claimed in claim1, which apparatus further comprises: at least one die having aplurality of sides, each of said plurality of sides having a differentone from a set of indicia; and a plurality of substantially identicalplaying pieces/chips to be used by different players or by one playerfor different bets in a game.
 3. An apparatus for playing a dice game asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the differently marked zones of the at leastone betting area are configured in a radial array around a centre of theat least one betting area.
 4. An apparatus for playing a dice game asclaimed in claim 3, wherein the at least one betting area is polygonaland each side of the polygon is a differently marked zone.
 5. Anapparatus for playing a dice game as claimed in claim 1, wherein eachdifferently marked zone of the at least one betting area isdifferentiated by its colour.
 6. An apparatus for playing a dice game asclaimed in claim 1, wherein there are at least two dice and each die isa six-sided die
 7. An apparatus for playing a dice game as claimed inclaim 6, wherein there are at least 21 independent betting areas, eachcorresponding to a different outcome of a throw of the pair of dice. 8.An apparatus for playing a dice game as claimed in claim 7, whereinthere are a further six independent betting areas corresponding to thesix different outcomes for one of the pair of dice.
 9. An apparatus forplaying a dice game as claimed in claim 7, wherein the at least 21independent betting areas are configured on the playing surface groupedtogether in a triangular arrangement.
 10. An apparatus for playing adice game as claimed in claim 7, wherein the at least 21 independentbetting areas are configured on the playing surface grouped togetherwith adjacent sides of adjacent betting areas being contiguous.
 11. Anapparatus for playing a dice game as claimed in claim 1, wherein thetable has at least two dice-throwing zones, each having a perimeter walltowards which the dice may be thrown/rolled and serving to contain thedice on the table, there being an inset bay/recess between the at leasttwo dice-throwing zones where a game supervisor may stand.
 12. Anapparatus for playing a dice game with bets on the outcome of throws ofthe dice, which apparatus comprises: a table with a playing surface onwhich the dice may be thrown wherein the table has at least twodice-throwing zones, each having a perimeter wall towards which the dicemay be thrown/rolled and serving to contain the dice on the table, therebeing an inset bay between the at least two dice-throwing zones where agame supervisor may stand
 13. An apparatus for playing a dice game asclaimed in claim 12, wherein each of the perimeter walls curves/bowsoutwardly from the table as viewed from above.
 14. An apparatus forplaying a dice game as claimed in claim 12, wherein a first of theperimeter walls curves/bows outwardly oriented in a first direction anda second perimeter wall curves/bows outwardly oriented in a seconddirection at an acute angle to the first direction.
 15. An apparatus forplaying a dice game as claimed in claim 14 wherein each of the perimeterwalls curves/bows outwardly substantially symmetrically and each isoriented with its axis of symmetry at an acute angle to the axis ofsymmetry of the other perimeter wall.
 16. An apparatus for playing adice game as claimed in claim 1, wherein the playing surface is furthermarked with a further group of betting areas wherein each betting areaof the group corresponds to multiple different outcomes of a throw ofthe at least one die so that a player may bet on multiple differentoutcomes with one placed bet.
 17. An apparatus for playing a dice gameas claimed in claim 1, wherein the playing surface is further markedalong the perimeter of the table facing the players with a series ofmarks each corresponding to a different one of the marks of thedifferently marked player-specific zones so that each player will standbehind their specific marked position.
 18. A method for playing amulti-player game of chance in which bets are placed using betting areasmarked on a playing surface, the method comprising marking the bettingareas thereon with a plurality of markings each of which markings isspecific to one player so that each player's playing piece/chip may bedifferentiated from that of another player not by the colour of theplaying piece/chip but by the selected differently marked zone of thebetting area that the playing piece/chip is placed on.
 19. A method forplaying a multi-player game of chance as claimed in claim 18, whereinthe game is a dice game and the pay-offs for all of the availablebetting areas offer the same house advantage.
 20. A method for playing amulti-player game of chance as claimed in claim 18, wherein the game isa dice game and pay-offs for all of the available betting areas arewhole number (ie odds of X to 1 where X is a whole number).